Tikka opinions

OK, so I posted on the CZ550 prior. They do not have a great selection of left handed models. What is the consensus on Tikka? I see they have the stainless lite .270 that looks good. Is this a solid "budget" rifle platform to build on as well?

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Charles S

March 14, 2013, 07:05 PM

My Tikka T3 in 270 Winchester is one of my very favorite rifles and I carry it often. Mine is light and handy. The Tikka offers more accuracy than I really need.

I am very pleased with mine!

dubbleA

March 14, 2013, 07:14 PM

I had a T3 Lite in 270WSM and it was the worst shooting rifle I ever owned. The stainless barrel had rust on it from new in the box. It comes with cheesy aluminum rings that have a lot to be desired. Lots of plastic parts including the stock, magazine and bolt shroud. A very weak attempt for a recoil lug. About the only thing I liked about it was the serviceable trigger, it was decent. It shot patterns instead of groups. I did try my best to work with it but wound up taking it back to the dealer and getting my money back. Some love and adore them but as for me and my house we will pass them by like bad habit.:barf::barf::barf:

lakecitybrass

March 14, 2013, 07:30 PM

I would love to find a Tikka T3 in .223. I think it would make an excellent XTC high power rifle. A friend has one and it is slick.

dmancornell

March 14, 2013, 07:40 PM

I have a Tikka Lite in .233 with a Zeiss Conquest in a DNZ mount. It is solid.

Mr. Farknocker

March 14, 2013, 08:24 PM

I've got the .270 in SS. It's a tack driver. It's light for lugging around in the woods which makes it great for hunting, kicks like a mule because of its sub 6.5 lbs. weight and doesn't break the bank (got it for $550 at Sports Authority). Quality barrel and trigger are what makes it work. The furniture and scope rings leave a lot to be desired as the previous poster said. SS is not impervious to rust. You gotta take care of the finish or you'll end up with surface rust on your barrel.

viking499

March 14, 2013, 08:26 PM

I have 2 Tikka 6.5x55's. One I love, the other I am not sure of. Just got it and have not had a chance to shoot it yet.

lakecitybrass

March 14, 2013, 08:39 PM

So, have any of you seen the T3 advertised for sale lately?

Thanks, John

surjimmy

March 14, 2013, 08:57 PM

IMHO, Tikka makes the beat rifle you can buy for under $1000. Butter smooth action, dead accurate right out of the box. You just can't beat it.

ball3006

March 14, 2013, 10:03 PM

I have a 1943 Mosin Nagant with a Tikka barrel that will shoot one inch groups all day long if I do my part....chris3

Awsomepossum

March 14, 2013, 10:48 PM

I am also left handed and looked everywhere for a rifle. After looking localy in my area, I put a ad on this website and bought a lh tikka in 308 with a nikon buckmasters. Very pleased with the workmanship of both the rifle and scope.

Edit: Also there is a man with a Lh 300 win mag for sale

Kachok

March 14, 2013, 10:52 PM

My T3 6.5x55 is the most accurate rifle I have ever owned, even more so then my Savages. I would love to have one in 270 win to go with it.

280shooter

March 14, 2013, 11:00 PM

I have a tika 3lite stainless left hand 223 twist is 1 -8 ,its so smooth.nikon glass on it,,I reloaded 45 gr, to 62 so far, less then 1/2 groups at 100 yards, Now how can you beat that for less then 1000 bucks,,I think i paid about 600 for it, new in box,3 years ago,Ilike to have another in 8mm,,,

LevelHead

March 14, 2013, 11:21 PM

I have a Sako Stainless Hunter in .308. It's beautiful, and it should be because it was $2000 without the scope.

I recently bought a Tikka M595 in .223 to train my daughter on. I bought it used in mint condition for $700.

You know what? I think I like the Tikka more. The Sako delivers in that there is no plastic on it while the Tikka has plastic trigger guard and magazine, but as much as I hate plastic on guns, the Tikka is so nice that it hasn't bothered me yet. I've not handled the newer T3s, but if you can find an older M595 or similar, grab it.

adelbridge

March 15, 2013, 12:26 AM

One sized fits all action is good for big cartridges. I wouldn't buy one for short action cartridges.

280shooter

March 15, 2013, 12:39 AM

being one size for all. doesnt bother me. it still shoots great, evn with all the plastic parts. My first thougt was,,, whts with the plastic bit,? is this a cheap piece of crap..NOT at all. just one thing I dont care for. is, yu have to charge the clip when its out of the gun,,

Welding Rod

March 15, 2013, 01:25 AM

Odd man out here - My Tikka T3 in .308 was not very accurate, shooting about 1.5 MOA for 3 shots, so I sold it shortly after buying it.

sleepyone

March 15, 2013, 01:51 AM

I had a couple of T3 Lites in .243 and .308. the .43 was blued with synthetic and the .308 was SS with synthetic. They were accurate, but too much plastic. I went with the new FN Winchester Featherweight in .243 and .270.

B!ngo

March 15, 2013, 02:16 AM

I purchased a Tikka Sporter (the new model) in .308 with a 24" barrel - left handed model. It's a beauty but quite heavy of course. It's more of like a range/target gun with the option of a bit of plinking and hunting so long as it's not too much heavy lifting. Fitted a Leica scope to it and it satisfies a 'want' that I've had for many years. The Leica doesn't get much press. Pretty light on features and models but the glass is shockingly clear. I'm now planning on going back for a T3 lite in .223. The low weight of the rifle coupled with the modest kick of the .223 round should be a great combination. I like to stick with a 'brand' if possible to build up knowledge of parts availability, manual of arms, etc. and I'm happy to keep with Tikka for bolt rifles.
Remington was the other option for me - mid-priced bolt rifles with a few left-handed options but I prefer the feel of the Tikka action, they have more left-handed models to choose from, and the T3 Lite option is appealing.
CZ's and Savage didn't seem to have many left-handed models that appealed to me.
I say go for it. You won't be disappointed.
B

Nwflycaster

March 15, 2013, 02:20 AM

My Tikka .338 is easily my most accurate non match rifle that I own.

Birdhunter1

March 15, 2013, 11:13 AM

Tikka T3 Laminates stock stainless steel .243 right handed action. Love it, it is my favorite rifle out of the whole safe and would not trade it for anything else.

280shooter

March 15, 2013, 11:32 AM

Mine took about 300 rounds down the tube before it broke in,and now.. I shoot anything in and its still 1/2 or less at 100 yards,the lite 3 is all about being,,, Light weight,,all the plastic bits are what makes it Light,

Riceman98

March 15, 2013, 01:30 PM

I have 2 tikkas. One is a T3 lite in .270 blued and a T3 superlite in 7mm Rem Mag stainless. They are by far the most accurate rifles I own. I did replace the stock recoil pad with a limb saver and that helps a lot. I wouldn't consider it a "budget" rifle more like a "mid-range" rifle. As noted the rings it comes with are junk. Get some DNZ rings.

Gtscotty

March 15, 2013, 05:06 PM

I had a T3 lite in 30-06, and a T3 hunter in 270 wsm. Both were excellent rifles with good ergonomics, smooth bolt action, a detachable mag and excellent trigger. The T3 lite shot about as well as my X-bolt in the same caliber at 3/4" 5 shot groups. The T3 hunter was the most accurate rifle I have owned, I can't shoot like some of the folks here, but I put down several sub .5" groups using that rifle. If you're looking for a functional hunting or recreational target rifle, I think you can do far, far worse than Tikka... for more money.

shaggy430

March 15, 2013, 05:20 PM

I LOVE my Tikka. It is my favorite rifle.

coloradokevin

March 17, 2013, 02:30 PM

It's hard to beat a Tikka in the price range, and many more expensive guns don't even work as well as the Tikka line. Tikka rifles are made in the Sako factory on Sako tooling, pretty much right along with the more expensive and popular Sako rifles.

I have a Tikka T3 Scout CTR in .308 Win, which is just a heavy barreled version, and the darn thing is a tack driver. I usually shoot this rifle in the 100-600 yard distance range, but popped a prairie dog with it at 687 and then 711 yards a couple of weeks ago (verified with a LRF). The darn thing just plain shoots!

For the first couple of years I had it, I was shooting it with a $300 scope and some TPS rings. I've liked the rifle well enough that I now have my Schmidt and Bender scope mounted on it with a Spuhr mount (so, the optics setup I gave this gun is worth nearly 5 times what I paid for the gun).

The only real gripes I have is that:

1) I wish it had a threaded barrel so I could suppress it, but that's just the way it was designed.

2) I wish the extraction was a bit stronger. Sometimes I'll have an empty casing just kind of hang out in the ejection port.

But, these are minor gripes when considering that I've got a solid half-MOA gun that I paid $800 for.

wford

March 17, 2013, 03:46 PM

I have a Tikka T3 stainless in .300 win mag that I bought after researching and holding most of the guns recommended. To me the Tikka handled the best and the quality is very good for this price range. I put a Redfield Revolution 4-12x40 on it and shot it yesterday with cheap wal mart ammo. It is a very accurate gun, I sighted it in and shot very tight groups from1,2,3 hundred yards. I ordered a ded nutz one piece system but it isnt here yet, and the Tikka rings held up just fine (only 60 rounds though). These have extremely smooth bolts and I actually like the polymer stock, it has a very light rubbery feeling to it and I really like the location of the safety and the loaded chamber indicator. I am new to hunting rifles but I was recommended this gun by many many people and I am 100% satisfied. Mine was shipped with a bolt that had I very bad finish but Beretta (owns tikka) fixed it and sent it back within 3 weeks. The only things I don't love about this gun are:

1. Mags are plastic and quite expensive to replace. (I got one with my gun)
2. Trigger guard is plastic
3. Rubber pad on buttstock is firm (300. win mag is a kicker)

hdbiker

March 17, 2013, 03:50 PM

I own a T3 light in .243 Win.I wish I had spent the extra 100 bucks for the Hunter,with walnut stock.Great rifle,accurate,smooth as silk,but the 65 bucks for an extra plastIc magazine was a little much.I'd buy another Titka. biker

jmr40

March 17, 2013, 03:59 PM

They work, they are as accurate as anything else and more so than most. They are the lightest rifle you will buy for under $1,000 if that is a goal.

I've had a couple and would recommend them but there are some negatives that some don't like. They are not traditional looking. They use more plastic than some like, but this is overstated in my opinion. Their plastic stock is one of the better factroy synthetics. The plastic magazines work great, but are overpriced and used to be hard to find. I was never able to actually locate one when I owned my Tikka's. They have a plastic bolt shroud that bothers some. I cannot imagine it breaking, and if it does it will still work fine without it. In heavy recoiling calibers the light weight can be too much.

I ended up selling mine, not because of a single problem. I just had other rifles I liked better. If I were looking to put together the most accurate rifle for mountain hunting at the least possible cost one would be on the top of my list.

45crittergitter

April 1, 2013, 05:55 PM

They are outstanding rifles and a very good deal. Among the slickest and most accurate I've ever used.

YZ

April 3, 2013, 12:50 AM

I had a T3 Varmint, with the slickest bolt action ever. It would shoot less than a box to the point of aim, and then go haywire. The barrel just overheated. I experimented with icepacks, but eventually let it go. To this day, I am not quite sure that the rifle wasn't actually meant to be fired sporadically at intervals, and the manufacturer's savings were passed on to me. That might explain why a rifle as good looking and smooth as the Sako was half the price.

P.S. The 223 is scarce but shows up on gunbroker. Saw one last month while price checking.

Mr. Farknocker

April 22, 2013, 07:03 AM

This is how accurate the Tikka T3 SS .270 can be. I shot my handloads (Sierra Matchking 135gr) this afternoon and put just about 4 out of 5 shots through the same hole at 100 yards. 183128

bailer

April 22, 2013, 12:47 PM

Nice shooting. I've quit telling people how well my Tikka shoots, unless I'm at a range where I can back it up. They just shoot too well to sound believable.

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